Chappell Roan, the singer, announced she had parted ways with the talent agency led by Casey Wasserman, whose name appeared in the Epstein files, citing a "duty to protect her team" as the reason for her departure. Meanwhile, in Sydney, Australian police defended their actions after violent clashes with protesters during a demonstration against a visit by the Israeli president, and a landmark trial began in California accusing Instagram and YouTube of creating "addiction machines." BP also reported a drop in annual profits due to falling oil prices.
Roan's decision to leave Wasserman's agency was announced on Instagram. While she made no direct mention of Jeffrey Epstein or the files associated with him, her statement reflected her belief that "meaningful change in our industry requires accountability," according to BBC World. Wasserman has faced criticism following the revelation of flirtatious emails he sent to Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003, which were included in the Epstein files.
In Sydney, police used pepper spray and were seen charging and punching protesters during a rally against the Israeli president's visit. According to BBC World, police arrested 27 people, with nine later charged, and 10 officers were assaulted. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that officers showed "remarkable restraint" and "did what they needed to do." The rally organizers had not yet released a statement.
The trial in California, as reported by BBC Technology and BBC Business, focuses on the mental health effects of social media addiction. Mark Lanier, representing the plaintiff "K.G.M.," argued that Meta and YouTube built "machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose." Lawyers for the social media companies countered that K.G.M.'s addiction stemmed from other issues.
BP, as reported by BBC Business, saw its profits fall to $7.5 billion in 2025, down from $8.9 billion the previous year, due to a 20% drop in crude oil prices. The company also announced it was suspending its share buyback program and increasing its cost savings target. The results came ahead of the arrival of its new boss, Meg O'Neill, who will become the first woman to run a major global oil firm in April.
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